Zelensky Says US Raised Territory-for-NATO Trade-Off
The Ukrainian president said the U.S. raised NATO membership for his country in exchange for a Donbas withdrawal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed on Saturday that the United States inquired about Ukraine's willingness to withdraw troops from the eastern Donbas region in exchange for NATO membership. This marks a potential change from former President Donald Trump's previous stance of opposing Ukraine's entry into the Western military alliance.
Zelensky affirmed that the question was posed by American negotiators for the first time, though no concrete proposal has emerged thus far. He emphasized that any agreement would not entail acknowledging Russian control over occupied territories, nor would it commit Ukraine to neutrality, as the latter would necessitate a constitutional amendment.
Zelensky cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not accept Ukraine's neutrality as enshrined in a NATO framework, as this contradicts Russia's stance that NATO membership for Ukraine is a "red line." Earlier this week, U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials convened in Abu Dhabi for their initial trilateral talks in nine months, while European leaders held separate discussions with their U.S. and Ukrainian counterparts.
The negotiations involve territory in Donbas that remains under Ukrainian control, with Russian forces having failed to capture it. Should Ukraine agree to withdraw, it would entail surrendering territory that its military has defended against the prospect of Russian aggression. The reported inquiry signifies a significant departure from Trump's earlier position, which outright rejected Ukraine's NATO membership.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously downplayed the possibility of membership, emphasizing the need for unanimous approval among all NATO members. Zelensky stressed that any final proposal must be presented to the Ukrainian public, as he cannot make the decision unilaterally. He reiterated Ukraine's refusal to recognize Russian sovereignty over the occupied territories, leaving the issue of territorial claims unresolved pending a withdrawal of troops.
Zelensky warned that Putin's interest in altering borders in Europe could potentially undermine NATO's security guarantees and set the stage for a broader confrontation over continental security. Addressing European leaders in Dublin, Zelensky called for European nations to secure a permanent role in the negotiations, framing the talks as primarily about establishing a new security framework between Europe and Russia.
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